Captain Mikey Retherford Jr.: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Tonight, on the season finale of Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove, captain Mikey Retherford Jr. will face deadly waves as he struggles to bring his crew to the finish line. Read on to find out what you need to know about the brave captain.

1. He Ran His First Boat at Age 21

Like many of the men on Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove, Captain Mikey Retherford Jr. grew up fishing on his dad’s boat. By age 21, he was running his own boat.

Mikey graduated from Toldeo High School in Oregon in 1999. He first met his wife, Tia, in 1997.

2. He Is a Baseball Lover

(Facebook/MichaelRetherford

Apart from fishing, Mikey is a huge baseball lover. After high school, he made his way to Concordia University to pursue the sport, and during the holiday breaks, he’d spend time crabbing with his dad.

3. He Spent His 21st Birthday in Alaska on the F/v Seeker

Mikey spent his 21st birthday fishing in Alaska on the F/V Seeker, according to the Winona J website. One year later, he became the youngest captain in Newport, and ran the F/V Excalibur.

The Retherford’s purchased the Winona J in 2008, and since the beginning, Mikey has been the boat’s full-time captain. In 2014, he and his wife, along with Mike & Kelly, Chris & Angie, and his little brother Kyle, purchased the Mandy J.

4. He Married His High School Sweetheart

Mikey married Tia, his high school sweetheart, on July 6, 2002. Together, the couple has three children: Mikayla, Ashton, and Faith.

According to her Facebook page, Tia is an independent consultant and director at Thirty-One Gifts. Since 2004, she has served on the Board of Directors at Newport Fishermen’s Wives. Tia was born and raised in Toldeo, Oregon, and attended Toledo Science High School.

5. He’s Grooming His Son to Be Part of the Family Business

(Facebook/MichaelRetherford

We’ve all met Mikey’s son, Ashton, by now, and it should come as no surprise that Mikey’s grooming his grooming his 13-year-old son, Ashton, to be part of the family business.

In an interview with ET, Mikey said, “It’ll be good for him. I really want him to understand how to work and what it’s like to work.”